If in the television world ‘Everybody loves Raymond’, then the automotive world’s equivalent surely must be the Mazda 2. However perhaps unlike Ray Romano, the 2’s popularity is well earned – it’s a divine looking car that drives like a dream and ticks all the boxes for the new car buyer, plus some.

There are three Mazda 2s to choose from and include the Mazda 2 sporty-look Genki, the Mazda 2 mid-level Maxx and the base model Mazda 2 Neo.

The new 2 has ditched its previous ‘boxy’ look along with some serious weight (the new Mazda 2 is 100 kg lighter, no doubt saving money on petrol and CO2 emissions) and in shaving off some serious inches from its body – the results are a slick, sexy, toned body that effortlessly commands attention on the road.

Yet the Mazda 2 isn’t just a pretty face with the inside just as impressive as its superb exterior. This is one amazingly roomy car with a good-sized, deep boot and fold-down seats in the rear (with the passenger seat down, you could easily fit in a surfboard), plus head room to easily accommodate even Ray’s 6' 8.5' brother Robert in both the front and rear.

The trim is a funky and modern (silver and black), there is a huge glove box, a lidded storage tray, easy-to-use cup holders; the Neo comes with a single CD player whilst the Maxx and Genki have 6-disc CD player with steering wheel controls, remote central locking, power steering, power windows and mirrors and air conditioning as standard.

To drive, the Mazda 2 is effortless, light and in a word – joyous. It drives like a dream on the open road (definitely one of the best I’ve encountered in its class for long-distance journeys) and the 2 is 3 x zoom = fun to drive around the city. I loathed to give it back.